颗 meaning and stroke order
Classifier for small spheres, pearls, corn grains, teeth, hearts, satellites etc
How to write 颗, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 颗
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- classifier for small spheres, pearls, corn grains, teeth, hearts, satellites etc
How 颗 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Grain.
果 gives the meaning and 页 hints at the sound.
Radical: 页 (page), shared by 39 characters on this site.
How to remember 颗
颗 is built from 果 (guǒ, fruit) on the left and 页 (yè, head) on the right. Picture a round fruit next to a round head, and you have the classifier for small round things.
颗 is mainly a measure word for small, round, or compact objects such as beans, pearls, teeth, stars, and even hearts. It also appears in 颗粒 (kēlì), meaning granule. Example: 天上有一颗星星。(Tiān shàng yǒu yì kē xīngxing.) There is a star in the sky.
Common mistake: Learners often write 棵 (kē) instead, since it has the same sound. 棵 with the tree radical 木 is for trees and plants, while 颗 is for small round things, so it is 一棵树 but 一颗糖.
Common words with 颗
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 颗粒 | kēlì | kernel; granule |
颗 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 颗
How many strokes are in 颗?
颗 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 颗 mean?
颗 (kē) means classifier for small spheres, pearls, corn grains, teeth, hearts, satellites etc. A common word with it is 颗粒 (kēlì), meaning "kernel; granule".
How do you pronounce 颗?
颗 is pronounced kē, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 颗?
The radical of 颗 is 页, which carries the idea of "page". Dictionaries list 颗 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 颗?
The traditional form of 颗 is 顆. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 颗 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 颗 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 颗 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I use 颗 for a heart in a figurative sense?
Yes. 一颗心 (yì kē xīn) is very common and often means one's feelings or sincerity, as in 一颗爱国的心 (a patriotic heart).
What is the difference between 颗 and 粒 as measure words?
Both count small round things, but 粒 (lì) is usually for very tiny grains like rice or sand. 颗 works for slightly bigger items like candies, teeth, pearls, and also stars and satellites.